Feed for sugar cube dispensers



1933- H. J. THOMPSON ET 'AL} 1,896,208

FEED FOR SIUGAR CUBE DISPENSERS .Filed Jan. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet lgwucniot Henrgd Thompson /1121012 F5 lair Feb. 7, 1933. H. J. THOMPSONET AL ,896, 08

FEED FOR SUGAR CUBE DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3452 "if U 94 F/Z' Q' i7 Utbozwaq .filed by John G.

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 U I E STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY 'J'. THOMPSON, 0FSEATTLE, AND ANTOlN F. SULAK',OF KING COUNTY WASH INGTON, ASSIGN'ORS 0FONE-THIRD TO HUGH M. CALDWELL, ONE-THIRD TO JOHNG.

MYERS, AND ONE-THIRD TON v TOJOHN D. ARROWSMITH, ALL SEATTLE, WASHING-I'EED FOB SUGAR CUBE DISPENSERS Application Med January 25, 1982, SerialNo.'588,690.

Our invention relates to dispensing apparatus, and more especially toapparatus such as is shown in ap lication SerialNo. 563,712,

yers and John D. Arrowsmith on September 19,1931, forfthe dispensing ofsingle lumps of sugar. :7

One of'the objects of the present invention is to devise afeed apparatusfor such a dispenser which shall be simple'in construction, assembly,and operation, with the minimum number of parts, which can beassembledin a small space beneath the bottom of the container for sugar cubes,and whichiwill props erly control themovement of the star wheel whichreceives. and advances the individual cubesinto delivery position,

More specifically it is an object to provide such feed means which willinsure the vmovement of the star wheel and the sugar cubes segregatedthereby from onedefinite position in a given direction to anotherdefinlte position, which will hold the star wheel while in suchpositions against return movement, but which, when in any intermediateposition,

. may be so operated as to'cause" to and fro movement of the star wheel,thus to dislodge any. jam that may'occur, and to cause any sugar-cubewhich may be cocked sidewise in its recess or pocket to bemoved bycontact with parts of the dispenserand with other cubes into properposition for delivery.

With these and other objects in mind our invention comprises the novelparts and the novel combination and arrangement thereof b with relationto each other, as is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, described inthis specification, and as will be more particularly pointed out by, theclaims which termimate the same. I V v In the accompanying drawings wehave shown our invention embodied in a form which is at presentpreferred by us.

Figure 1 is a top plan .view of the dis penser with the cover removed.-I

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section through the dispenser, illustratingthe relationsh p of the feed means to the delivery means.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser and feed means in thenormal. position of rest, and Figure 4 is a similar view showposition.

during the cycle ing parts at the completion of a delivery I movementand before return to the normal Figure 5 is a detail axial sectionalview substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figures 6,7,8 and 9 are detail sectional views showing parts indifferent positions of operatiomtaken substantially along the curvedline 66 of Figure 3. V Theform assumed by the dispenser is largelyimmaterial, but our invention, is best adapted to a devicewherein a starwheel 9, having recesses orlpockets 90, is rotatably mounted within acontainer 91 a delivery outlet 92. The cube to be de ivered s segregatedfrom the others by its dropping into a recess 90, where it restsupon thebottomv to advance sugar cubes G one by one into registr with to drawthe star wheel back, to relieve such a cube of the pressureagainst thepoint before it will drop into the pocket, or be turned over bysubsequent engagement with the point so-that it will drop.

In the application referred to,it is preferable that the bottom of thereceptacle be domed'upward, as indicated at 93, and the star wheel issecured to rotate upon a vertical shaft 8 journaled in this domedportion 93. The flanges defining the pockets 90 are disposed between thedome and the wall of the container. The shaft is provided with anoncircular or squared portion81 fora purpose whichwill appearhereafter. 3

Associated with the star wheel 9 is a ratchet 7 plate 1, which may besomewhat'cupped, as indicated at 10, to fit within;the dome 93, from theunder side. In such a case the plate takes the form of a flanged portionof this cup, which lies just beneath and in contact 7 with the bottom 94of the receptacle, and this plate is notched, as indicated at 11, thenumber of notches corresponding to the number of recesses 90in the starwheel. The ratchet plate is provided with an aperture fitting upon-thesquared portion 81, by means of which it may rotate the shaft 8 andconsequently the star wheel 9.

Engageable with this ratchet wheel 1 is a feed dog 2. For conveniencethis may be formed as part of a plate which is supported upon the lowerend of the shaft 8 for oscillation thereabout. The dog 2 is sopositioned as to engage within the several notches 11, and its arc ofmovement is just sufficient to move a notch, and consequently a recess90 of the star wheel, enough to bring the next succeeding notch intodelivery position. Such movement of the dog 2 may be accomplished bymeans of a link 3 pivoted at 23 to the plate 20, andsecured at its otherend, at the point 30, to an operating lever 31 which may be pivoted at32 in the handle 97, the operating lever having a thumb button 33 whichis positioned conveniently for engagement by the thumb of a hand whichgrasps the handle 97. A stop 22 upon the plate 20 will engage the link 8to limit movement of the link and dog 2' under the influence of a returnspring 34 (compare Figures 3 and 4:). Limitation of the advance movementof the dog may be ob tained in various ways, for instance, by contact ofthe operating lever 31 with the end of a slot 98 (see Figures 1 and 2)through which it projects.

Positioned to engage within one of the notches 11, when the star wheelis in delivery position, and to prevent return of the ratchet plate 1and the star wheel from such position, isja holding dog l. This may besecured to the under side of the bottom 94, or may be ressed thereinto,as is shown in the drawings. Preferably this is inclined so that theratchet plate 1 will ride over the holding dog 4, but

, dropping over it when it has passed, will not tion 10 of the ratchetplate,

be permitted to return.

Because a certain yieldability of the dog 2 and ratchet plate 1 withrespect to each other and to the holding dog 4 is necessary, this caneither be incorporated in the parts themselves, by making them ofsufliciently resilient material, or it can be provided for in a waywhich we will now describe. Thusthe plate 20 may be provided with twospaced feet 24 which bear upwardly against the cupped porthese feet 24being opposite the dog 2, and the dog is supported by a resilient foot25. In order to support the dog 2 and its plate 20, therefore,

\ and to press the dog into the notches 11 in opposition to theresilient foot 25, we provide a spring 5 surrounding the lower end ofthe shaft 8, its lower end resting against a brace member 99 supportedby a cotter pin 50,this spring exerting a force upward superior to thecombined force of the resilient foot 25 and the weight of the plate 20and connected parts, including the plate 1. The spring 5 may also assistthe action of the spring 34 to return parts to the normal positionof'rest, shown in Figure 3, and for this purpose its ends may beconnected respectively to the pin 23 and to the plate 20 at 52.

The normal position of rest is shown in Figure 3, The spring 34,assisted perhaps by the spring ,5, has drawn the link 3 inward towardthe shaft 8 until the link contacts with the stop 22. The feed dog 2 nowlies within one of the notches 11. The holding dog 4;

lies within an adjacent notch 11. It will be assumed that the cube ofsugar which was thus brought to delivery position was discharged. Now itis desired to discharge another lump.

The button 33 is pressed, pulling the link 3 to the position shown inFigure 4:. The feed dog 2 advances, under the pull of the link, anangular amount corresponding to the spacing between notches 11 andbetween recesses 90. This brings the notch engaged by the feed dog 2into registry with the holding dog l. The ratchet plate 2 had previouslyflexed sli htly to ride over the fixed holding dog, an it now drops, orrather rises, about the holdin dog, under the'infiuence of the spring 5.This displaces the feed dog 2 from the notch, and upon return movementof the link 3 and do" 2, the dog will ride over-that is, under-th'eratchet plate 1 until it comes into registry with the next notch 11,whereupon, under the influence of the spring 5, it will drop into thisnotch, and is'now in the position of Figure 3, ready for the advance ofanother lump.

If the lump of sugar should become stuck in its recess, or improperlyengaged with the point 96 or the separator 95, the feed movement of thedog 2 cannot be completed, but the ratchet plate 1, in any intermediateposition, rides upon the hold n dog 4:, and there is nothing to displacethe eed dog 2 until it is displaced by the fixed holding dog 4.Accordingly, the ratchet plate may be oscillated back and forth bypressing and releasing the button 33, and this will cause the star wheel9 to move back and forth within the container until the lump which isstuck is dislodged and drops into proper position, whereupon the feedmovement can be completed. Since it is not practicable to dump thecontents of such a receptacle, should a cube become stuck, and sincethere is no way of getting at such a stuck tube, this feature is ofconsiderable importance.

p The edges of the several notches and the holding dog should beproperly inclined to permit advance or feed movement, but to preventreturn is shown, and the various positions of the parts during the feedmovement are illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive. Thus it will beseen that the forward edge of the fixed holding dog 4, in the directionof move ment of the ratchet plate 1, is inclined so that the ratchetplatewill ride thereover. Similarly the leading edge of each notch 11 ismovement. Such inclination amass ing a delivery outlet and a star wheelrotatably mounted in the receptacle and recessed to receive and advancesugar cubes into registry with the outlet, feed means thereforcomprising a ratchet plate having spaced notches corresponding to therecesses of the star wheel, and operatively connected to the latter, afixed holding dog engageable withina notch to retain the ratchet plateand 7 star Wheel in delivery position, and when so engaged lyingsubstantially flush with the lower surface ofthe ratchet plate, a feeddog pivotally mounted to engage another notch of the ratchet plate,means to advance said feed dog and'the plate engaged thereby to bringanother recess of the star wheel into delivery position, and when soadvanced to be displaced from the notch by the holding dog now enteringthe same, whereby the feed dog may return over the plate'to position toengage a further notch.

2(In combination with a receptacle having adelivery outlet and a starwheel rotatably mounted above the bottom of the receptacle and recessedto receive and advance sugar cubes into registry with the outlet, feedmeans therefor comprising a. ratchet plate having spaced notchescorresponding to the recesses of the star-wheel, and operativelyconnected to the latter, means supporting said ratchet plate forrotation in contact with the under side of the bottom of the receptacle,a holding dog fixed 'with relation to such bottom, and raised beneaththe bottom by an amount substantially the thickness of the ratchetplate, said dog being positioned to engage within a notch of the ratchetplate to retain the ratchet plate and star wheel in delivery position, afeed dog pivotally mounted to engage within another notch of the ratchetplate, means to advance said feed dog and the plate engaged thereby overthe holding dog to bring another recess of the star wheel into deliveryposition, and when so advanced to be displaced from the notch by theholding dog now entering the same, the several parts being flexiblymounted to enable displacement of the rate tive to the holding dog, andrelative to the holding dog and turn movement over the plate.

3. In a sugar cube dispenser, in combination with a container having araised bottom and a delivery outlet adjacent the bottom, a

the feed dog plate, for reet plate rela-- ratchet plate rotatablysupported from and immediately beneath the bottom, and notched" aboutits periphery, a holding dog fixed to the bottom in the plane of theratchet plate at rest, and engageable with a notch thereof, a feed dogbearing upon the under side of the bottom to engage within a notch ofthe ratchet plate, means to advance the feed dog and beneath thelevel ofthe ratchet plate, to return 7 thereover,

and means to advance cubes of sugar within the container towards thedelivery outlet, said' means being operativel'y connected to theratchetplate.

4 In combination with areceptacle having a delivery outlet and a starwheel rotatably mounted in the receptacle and recessed to'receive andadvance i'ndividualsugar cubes intoregistry with'the outlet, feed meanstherefor comprising a ratchet plate having spaced pe riphera-l notchescorresponding to the recesses of the star'wheel and operativelyconnected to the latter, a fixed holding dog engageable within a notchto retain the ratchet plate andstar wheel indelivery position, and whenso engaged lying substantially fl'ushwith the. lower'surf'ace of theratchet plate, afeed dog disposed for oscillation coaxial l-y with theratchet plate, and engageable with another notch of theratchet plate, aresilient foot be tween the :plate-engagingside of the pivot of; thefeed dog, a pair of feet at the opposite sideof the dogs the ratchetplate, and a compression spring engageable beneath the feed dog, ofstrength in excess of the strength of the resilient foot and the weightof parts, whereby the feed dogis' yieldingly' pressed into engagementwith the ratchet wheel, and is disengageable therefrom upon engagementwith the holding dog, to enable return of the feed dog over the ratchetplate. r

5. In combination with a receptacle having a delivery outlet and abottom upwardly domed inwardly from the wallsof the receptacle, averticalshaft journaled in the center of the dome, and a sta-r wheelwithin the receptacle and secured to the shaft to be rotat-.

ed thereby, feed means for said star wheel comprising a ratchet platehaving spacedperipheral notches and an upwardly cupped central portionreceived within the dome, the

pivot, engaging the under side of tatably mounted shaft for oscillation,andengageable with another notch, a resilient foot projecting upwardlyfrom the feed dog, adjacent the notch, to engage the top of the cuppedportion of the ratchet plate, a pair of feet at the opposite ide of thedogs pivot, likewise engaging within such cupped portion, a compressionspring surrounding the shaft beneath the feed dog, and a thrust memberupon the shaft upon which the lower end of the spring bears to hold thedog yieldingly pressed upward in 0pposition to gravity and the resilientfoot.

6. In combination with a receptacle having a delivery outlet and a starwheel roabove the bottom of the receptacle and recessed to receive andadvance sugar cubes into registry with the outlet, feed means thereforcomprising a ratchet plate having spaced notches corresponding to therecesses of the star wheel, and operatively connected to the latter,means supporting said ratchet plate for rotation in contact with theunder side of the bottom of the receptacle, a holding dog fixed withrelation to such bottom, and raised beneath the bottom by an amountsubstantially the thickness of the ratchet plate, said dog beingpositioned to engage within a notch of the ratchet plate to retain theratchet plate and star wheel in delivery position, a feed dog pivotallymounted to engage within another notch of the ratchet plate, meansto-advance said feed dog and the plate engaged thereby over the holdingdog to bring another recess of the star wheel into delivery position,and when so advanced to be displaced from the notch by the holding dognow entering the same, the several parts being flexibly mounted toenable displacement of the ratchet plate relative to the holding dog,and the feed dog relative to the holding dog and plate, for returnmovement over the plate, and the forward edge of the holding dog and theleading edge of each notch being oppositely inclined to facilitatedisplacement of the feed dog and return thereof beneath the ratchetplate.

Signed by HENRY J. THOMPSON at Seattle, King County Washington, January20th, 1932, and by ANTON F. SULAK at Seattle, King County, Washington,January 20th,

HENRY J. THOMPSON. ANTON F. SULAK.

